Friday, March 12, 2010

Will thought I was crazy for wanting to take it home with me, but that's to be expected. He thought the same thing when I brought home the ugly, old "Free Stuff" headboard (remember my Headboard Bench?), but look how great that turned out!

It's true that while we were loading the door into the back of the car, I didn't know exactly what I would be doing with it, but come on...you can't pass up a solid wood door.

At least, I can't pass up a solid wood door!

What happened next was something that I couldn't even have hoped for.

I don't ever get this lucky.

See that door way back there?

The one right there...

That's our laundry room door, and while I love that it easily conceals the massive piles of dirty clothes behind it (I'll admit it - laundry is my least favorite chore), what I don't love is that it also blocks off all the light that pours thorough the window that we have in our laundry room...

So, my solution was to search, and patiently wait, for a door with windows on Craigslist, or head to one of my absolute favorite spots, Second Use (a salvage yard) and buy a door that would fit to replace our current laundry room door. Adding a door with windows and flooding the hallway with light throughout the day would make a huge difference in how the space feels. Even Will couldn't deny the benefits. And living in the Pacific Northwest, the more natural light that you can squeeze into the house (especially on a cloudy day), the better!

I almost didn't even bother measuring my new Free Stuff door to see if it would fit the opening, because...really, how often do things happen that perfectly?

I was shocked!

Will was even more shocked!

It fits our laundry room!

So we propped it up into place to get a good look at it...

and I LOVE it!

It looks so good!

I love, Love the juxtaposition of the old, worn paint and beat up wood against the crisp white, tailored wainscotting and trim.

So my new plan (since I no longer had to worry about waiting on Craigslist, or driving out to Second Use) was to turn our "new" old door into a Dutch Door.

Because it is solid wood we can cut it through the middle, and using simple guidelines that I have found online, we should be able to make the change relatively easily...

But,

(are you thinking what I'm thinking?)

a Dutch Door doesn't make for a very good way of concealing all of those mountains of laundry.

So, (light bulb moment) why not just cut out the top two panels and insert plexiglass in them? Then I can frost the plexiglass so that we are unable to actually see the mess behind it. We will get all the benefits of sunlight pouring through while still keeping the door closed when we need to...

Sounds like a good, reasonable plan, right?

It does to me.

But the more that Will and I talked about it, the further he strayed from my turn-the-free-stuff-door-into-our-new-dutch-door-with-windows plan.

So I'm asking your opinion.

What do you think?

Good plan?

Or, not so much?

What you should know is that the length of the door, after being hung, would come up a bit short. We would hang it at the right height on top, but there would be a gap at the bottom. Not a huge one, but a bit bigger than normal.

I have other ideas rolling around my head just in case this plan doesn't end up happening, but I'm really, really hoping that with your help, we can convince Will that this is a great idea!

(Like how I brought you guys in to this?)

:)

But, I want your honest opinions.

I'm all ears...

P.S. If you haven't yet entered our Giveaway from Dimples And Dandelions, click here to head over and enter!

57 comments:

Personally, I can't find a use for a dutch door in that location. It might be better to cut out some/all the panels and insert plexi, which you can frost or otherwise make pretty, let in natural light, and still conceal Mount Washmore.

What an awesome find. YES the DUTCH DOOR, I too have always wanted one of those. Why would you need to put the plexiglass though, just keep the top open when you are home alone and if you get company *have piles of laundry* shut the top half. That sounds perfectly reasonable to me. :-) That way you get your Dutch door, plus you conseal the clutter when you have guests. P.S. I love good finds. My hubby and I just made a trip to my friends front yard last night. They are remodeling, bought an adorable double sink vanity, with granite top. When it arrived the end of the granite was cracked....company sent a new one, but for months hasn't picked up the other one. The cracked one has sat in the rain for a couple of months, but is mostly wood.........SO she gave it to me. We are taking the granite top off, putting on a wood one. I am staining it dark on top and repainting white one the vanity part, using in our spare room for a vanity/dresser for guests. The great part, we bought a huge mirror at a yard sale *two for 9.00, we gave one to my friend *who gave me vanity* it will fit perfectly above the vanity/dresser. ALL for 9.00, we already have paint for both, just a bit of elbow grease. LOVE GREAT FINDS!!!!

that door is so cool just the way it is i would hate to touch it but that's why i don't have cool headboard benches in my yard!! i have had a dutch door before it is cool and functional. you will make it awesome!

I like the idea of the dutch door. It's such an awesome find! FREE! love that!I love old door projects. I have 3 old doors currently in my inventory, but they are big and heavy. Too hard for me to handle on my own. I need to wait till I have help.I want to make a bench out of one of my doors.good luck with your decision. gail

What a lucky find and what a great idea! I am all for letting sunlight pore forth into wherever it wishes to go. The frosted plexi sounds perfect for concealing the heap but not the happy rays of light. Can't wait to see what you all decide! I'm sure you've seen The Lettered Cottage's bathroom door, you could do something like that maybe?

Well I love the look and function of a dutch door, you can just throw the dirty laundry through the open top half!! Couldn't you add a strip of wood trim on the bottom edge and attempt to get it to match the finish...somehow?...to fix the height issue?

Whatever you decide to do I know it will be wonderful. I love the mix of old and new here.

GO FOR IT!!!!It would look amazing!Maybe I am biased though, I was just talking to my hubby a few nights ago about chopping the door to the playroom in half to make a dutch door... He isn't so keen on the idea, but if I were to come across a spare door... I would totally do it.I think the plexi-glass is a great idea too. We used plexi-glass in our kitchen to make "glass"-front cabinets. (Now I don't have to worry about the kiddo throwing something and breaking them!)

I hope you do it. I can't wait to see how it turns out. (Maybe if your project is a sucess, I will give mine a shot!)

What an awsome find! I can understand the light issue...living in the rainy state that you do. I think the glass would be a great idea. I love your blog and all your great ideas. I am a new blogger as well and would love to have you check out mine.http://thriftyparsonageliving.blogspot.com

Hi, first time leaving a comment...I found you recently through Janell's Isabella and Max Rooms blog. I LOVE the door, so much so that I might even consider another use for it. A headboard, maybe, or even as a beautiful wall hanging in just the perfect spot. But back to the issue at hand. I wouldn't do a dutch door, but I like the idea of glass panels. I wouldn't even frost them. Use a simple wood shade for texture on the inside if you need to conceal clutter, but otherwise, keep the shade raised to visually expand the hallway. You might even be inspired to make the laundry room a beautiful place! I know, it's kind of the last bastion of messy, but you never know. Good luck!

I love the idea of the Dutch door, just not in that space. If it were me, I'd put the plexiglass in all the panels. I can't wait to see how it turns out. You and your sweet hubby always do the greatest projects!God's blessings,Sarah :D

Amazing find! I love the idea of frosted plexi in all of the panels. You can always go dutch if you still do not feel as though there is enough light. As for the gap at the bottom, a piece of crown or metal door runner might just do the trick. Can't wait to see the final product! ~ Cara

Love the idea of putting glass in the panels, but you need to consider what the top of a dutch door would open against. In the first pic of your current door, it appears it would open into your laundry room. Is there room? If it opens into your hall, where would it "hit"? You don't want it swinging in mid air where a child's head would hit it and you don't want your walls damaged from the door swinging either. I'm not sure it would be the best place for a dutch door, but I may not be visualizing the space correctlyxoxo Pattie

As I was reading, and you mentioned Dutch Door, I thought, "Why doesn't she just cut the top out and replace it with glass or just leave it empty?" Ahhh . . . we think alike! Either way, it was a FREE door. If it turns out bad, you are not out a lot of money! And, you can always bless someone else with a new curb find!

As I was reading, and you mentioned Dutch Door, I thought, "Why doesn't she just cut the top out and replace it with glass or just leave it empty?" Ahhh . . . we think alike! Either way, it was a FREE door. If it turns out bad, you are not out a lot of money! And, you can always bless someone else with a new curb find!

i love the dutch door idea. Leave the top 1/2 open during the day, close it for company. If your piles of laundry are higher than the bottom 1/2 of the door, you may want to get in there and do a load but otherwise - I love it. Plus, you can just pitch the clothes thru the top without having to open a door. I think it's brilliant and would be fabulous. Give it a try!

Absolutely love the door!! If you're afraid of it coming up short, why not put frosted glass in the eight panels, or in the top two panels to let in the light? You could even etch the panels. All kinds of possibilities!! Congrats on your find!!

I would cut out the whole top part (all 4 panels and the middle + in between them) and put plexiglass in that. Tons of light, and you can either leave it as a regular door, OR cut it in half have your Dutch door. Either way, lots o' light :)

SOoooooooooo jealous!I LOVE THIS LOOK!If it were me, I would be cutting the top FOUR panels out and replace them with some glass!Almost so it looks like a window at the top of the door!I dunno... I'm thinking that ANYTHING you do, or don't do will make this door STILL look amazing!Shelleyhouseofsmiths.blogspot.com

I so love everyone's ideas. The ledge in the middle to make up he difference in height and taking out the top 4 panels including the + in between. Then when you frost the plexi you can put in a design or saying of some sort. Your initial, Laundry or whatever!~anita

I just found your blOg yesterday and have become obsessed! ;) I saw this post, was out running errands last night and picked up BHG Remodel mag- on page 51 is a beautiful pic of sOmeone's lovely home complete with DUTCH DOOR! :) It's a sign! :) Go for it!

I just came across your blog via Willow Decor. The door is fantastic but, in my humble opinion, you should find another place or project to use it on. I don't think it works in proximity to the new door sitting right next to it at all. I think it needs to be in a place where it can stand on its own. But I'll be back to see what you do.

I'm an old house aficionado myself and not one to necessarily believe the hype but I wouldn't feel right not mentioning it. Particularly if you are going to start disturbing the paint.

Second thought - while I like the idea in theory, I would probably hold out for an actual old door with the original frosted/pebbled glass. The ones from old offices/schools that already have a large, frosted glass opening. I could see that there.

I'd leave this door as-is for now, continue my hunt for an authentic "windowed" door, and then re purpose this elsewhere.

I'm obsessed with french doors, so I love that idea. Do both, plexi and french. That way, it's versatile and you can open it on the clean days (those are few and far between at my house) and keep it shut but still get the light on not so clean days.

Karla, I am so happy to be visiting your blog today..first time! I am smiling ear to ear! I love the idea of a dutch door...of course this is only because I would love a dutch door and if I can't have you...you should! I could look at your beautiful pictures and smile :) Can't wait to see what you decide! Wendy

While I love dutch doors it doesn't make sense to me to put one there. For me, good design has to make sense. Since you asked... What I would do is cut out all the panels and insert frosted glass. You would get the benefit of so much more light by doing all of the panels, proper glass should be in that door not plexi. Plus that door is so pretty I would hate to see it cut in half.

OMGoodness.i too, love that old texture against the crisp white.you have so many comments...not sure if one asked which way would the upper half of the door swing if you did a dutch door?inside?because if it went out, i don't think it would look good (at that location) if i am looking at the picture right. if you had it swing in then i say do the dutch door!

what a find! later this week i'm posting what i found on our street curb, driving in my pj pants & a sweatshirt. *school drop off lines...gotta love them*

LOVE the door! LOVE the price! I do think Dutch doors are fun and would work great for the laundry room, but in this case I'd say hold out for a door with glass already in place and use that beauty for another project. It would be great for a headboard ormounted horizontally on the wall. Just a thought.Midge

I say plexiglass! I would do it all but only because I LOVE sunlight! and I have the same problem in my entry way and unfortunately we are renting so we can't do any such thing, it is sooo dark there. SO I say go for it!

I love love LOVE the juxtaposition of the old with the new. The only reason I'd shy away from adding in plexiglass windows to that door would be that it would interfere with that juxtaposition. The door would lose so much of its charm. Finding the right door for the job will pay off.